Communication headset with signal processing capability

Abstract

In accordance with the teachings described herein, a communication headset with signal processing capabilities is provided. A radio communications circuitry may be included to communicate wirelessly with a communications device. A speaker may be included for directing acoustical signals into the ear canal of a headset user. A microphone may be included for receiving acoustical signals. A digital signal processor may be included for processing acoustical signals, the digital signal processor being operable in a first mode, such as a communication mode, and in a second mode, such as a hearing instrument mode.

1 . A dual-mode wireless headset for a communication device, comprising: 
 radio communications circuitry operable to communicate wirelessly with the communication device;    a speaker for directing acoustical signals into the ear canal of a headset user;    a microphone for receiving acoustical signals; and    a digital signal processor for processing acoustical signals, the digital signal processor being operable in a first mode and a second mode;    when in the first mode, the digital signal processor being operable to process an acoustical signal received by the microphone to control the directionality of the microphone such that the voice of the headset user is prominent in the acoustical signal;    when in the second mode, the digital signal processor being operable to process the acoustical signal received by the microphone to control the directionality of the microphone such that sounds other than the voice of the headset user are prominent in the acoustical signal;    when in the first mode, the digital signal processor being further operable to transmit the processed acoustical signal to the mobile communication device via the radio communications circuitry.    
     
     
         2 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 1 , wherein when in the second mode, the digital signal processor being further operable to process the acoustical signal to compensate for a hearing impairment of the headset user and to transmit the processed acoustical signal into the ear canal of the headset user via the speaker.  
     
     
         3 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 1 , wherein the digital signal processor is further operable when in the first mode to transmit acoustical signals received from the communication device into the ear canal of the headset user via the speaker.  
     
     
         4 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 3 , wherein the digital signal processor is further operable when in the first mode to process the acoustical signals received from the communication device to compensate for the hearing impairment of the headset user.  
     
     
         5 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 1 , wherein the communication device is a cellular telephone.  
     
     
         6 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 1 , further comprising a second microphone for receiving acoustical signals.  
     
     
         7 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 6 , wherein the digital signal processor when in the first mode processes the acoustical signals received from the microphone and from the second microphone to control the directionality of the microphone and the second microphone such that the voice of the headset user is prominent in the acoustical signal.  
     
     
         8 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 1 , wherein the digital signal processor is operable to receive an input that is used to determine the directionality of the microphone.  
     
     
         9 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 8 , wherein the input for determining the directionality of the microphone is received wirelessly from the communication device.  
     
     
         10 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 8 , wherein the input is selected from a plurality of possible directional responses.  
     
     
         11 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 8 , wherein the input for determining the directionality of the microphone is received from a user input device on the headset.  
     
     
         12 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 1 , wherein the digital signal processor includes a first processor and a second processor, the first processor being operable to control the directionality of the microphone and the second processor being operable to compensate for the hearing impairment of the headset user.  
     
     
         13 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second processors are implemented by a single processing device.  
     
     
         14 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 1 , wherein the digital signal processor is further operable to process acoustical signals to be transmitted into the ear canal of the headset user to reduce an occlusion effect perceived by the headset user.  
     
     
         15 . A dual-mode wireless headset for a communication device, comprising: 
 radio communications circuitry operable to communicate wirelessly with the communication device;    a speaker for directing acoustical signals into the ear canal of a headset user;    a microphone for receiving acoustical signals; and    a digital signal processor for processing acoustical signals, the digital signal processor being operable in a communication mode and a hearing instrument mode;    when in the communication mode, the digital signal processor being operable to communicate wirelessly with the communication device to transmit acoustical signals received by the microphone to the communication device and to transmit acoustical signals received from the communication device into the ear canal of the headset user via the speaker;    when in the hearing instrument mode, the digital signal processor being operable to process acoustical signals received by the microphone to compensate for a hearing impairment of the headset user and to transmit the processed acoustical signals into the ear canal of the headset user via the speaker;    the digital signal processor being further operable to process acoustical signals to be transmitted into the ear canal of the headset user to reduce an occlusion effect perceived by the headset user.    
     
     
         16 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 15 , wherein the digital signal processor reduces the occlusion effect by including environmental sounds received by the microphone in the acoustical signals transmitted into the ear canal of the headset user via the speaker.  
     
     
         17 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a inner-ear microphone for receiving acoustical signals from within the ear canal of the headset user;    wherein the digital signal processor reduces the occlusion effect by subtracting the acoustical signals received by the inner-ear microphone from the processed acoustical signals transmitted into the ear canal of the headset user via the speaker.    
     
     
         18 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 15 , wherein the digital signal processor is further operable when in the communication mode to transmit acoustical signals received from the communication device into the ear canal of the headset user via the speaker.  
     
     
         19 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 18 , wherein the digital signal processor is further operable when in the communication mode to process the acoustical signals received from the communication device to compensate for the hearing impairment of the headset user.  
     
     
         20 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 15 , wherein the communication device is a cellular telephone.  
     
     
         21 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 15 , further comprising a second microphone for receiving acoustical signals.  
     
     
         22 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 15 , wherein the functions of the digital signal processor are performed by a first processor and a second processor.  
     
     
         23 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 22 , wherein the first processor and the second processor are implemented by a single processing device.  
     
     
         24 . A dual-mode wireless headset, comprising: 
 radio communications circuitry operable to communicate wirelessly with an external device;    a speaker for directing acoustical signals into the ear canal of a headset user;    a microphone for receiving acoustical signals; and    a digital signal processor for processing acoustical signals, the digital signal processor being operable in a first mode and a second mode;    when in the first mode, the digital signal processor being operable to wirelessly receive a first acoustical signal from the external device via the radio communications circuitry, process the first acoustical signal to alter the audio characteristics of the first acoustical signal using pre-programmed amplitude and bandwidth settings and transmit the processed first acoustical signal into the ear canal of the headset user via the speaker;    when in the second mode, the digital signal processor being operable to receive a second acoustical signal from the microphone, process the second acoustical signal to compensate for a hearing impairment of the headset user and transmit the processed second acoustical signal into the ear canal of the headset user via the speaker;    the digital signal processor being further operable to wirelessly receive an equalizer setting via the radio communications circuitry and use the equalizer setting to program the amplitude and bandwidth settings.    
     
     
         25 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 24 , wherein the digital signal processor is further operable in the first mode to process the first acoustical signal to compensate for the hearing impairment of the headset user.  
     
     
         26 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 24 , wherein the external device is a radio.  
     
     
         27 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 24 , wherein the external device is a MP3 player.  
     
     
         28 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 24 , wherein the external device is a CD player.  
     
     
         29 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 24 , wherein the external device is a game machine.  
     
     
         30 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 24 , wherein the external device is a cellular telephone.  
     
     
         31 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 24 , wherein the external device is a computer.  
     
     
         32 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 24 , further comprising a second microphone for receiving acoustical signals.  
     
     
         33 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 24 , wherein the equalizer setting is received from the external device.  
     
     
         34 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 24 , wherein the equalizer setting is received from a second external device.  
     
     
         35 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 34 , wherein the second external device is a computer.  
     
     
         36 . The dual-mode wireless headset of  claim 34 , wherein the second external device is a remote control.